City Shuns Authority For State's Roadways

POQUOSON — A unanimous vote by the Poquoson City Council Tuesday night makes things clear: The council members want the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority to hit the road.

The Poquoson City Council passed a resolution asking the 2008 General Assembly to abolish the transportation authority. The resolution is the city's way of going on record that "we want the General Assembly to do its job," said Mayor Gordon Helsel. "That's all we want to do."

Helsel, who serves on the authority, said the transportation body sets up another layer of government. It's also a new taxing government that should be the responsibility of the state, he said.

The City Council's resolution said the legislation creating the transportation authority is flawed and that the council believes it's the General Assembly's responsibility to fund transportation.

In August, Helsel tried to quit the transportation authority's board. But the city's lawyer checked state laws and said he couldn't resign from the board.

Last week, the 12-member transportation authority approved a new plan it wants the General Assembly to consider that would replace revenues raised through taxes on real estate and other items with other taxes, including a 5 percent charge on motor fuel sales.